Bookholder



July 4, 1933. F. c. LANDSITTELY BOOKHOLDER Filed Oct 22, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l F6? Zarz dsz ZZeZ Z4 Z6 n y 1933- F. c. LANDSITT EL 1,916,576

' BOOKHOLDER Filed Oct. 22, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FClandJiZZcZ F. C. LANDSITTEL BOOKHOLDER July 4, 1933.

Filed Oct. 22, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 [Clarzclsiiiel Patented July 4-, 1933 UNITED STATES FREDERICK C. LANDS ITTEL, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO BOOKHOLDER i Application filed October 22, 1931. Serial No. 570,408.

T he present invention provides an improved adjustable holderadapted for the retention and support of relatively large and heavy books which, normally, are too bulky or awkward to permit of their convenient manual handling, for example,reference books such as dictionaries, catalogs, directories, atlases, etc.

It is an outstanding objectof the present invention to provide a book holder of improved, simplified and eificient mechanical construction wherein a contained book will be securely retained by the holder in a closed position and wherein release mechanism is provided, which must be positively operated before the holder and the book associated therewith may be opened. 7

It is another object of the invention to provide a holder which is of such construction that the book received therein by virtue of its own weight, andby utilizing the force of gravity, operates to retain the book in the holder in a closed position.

' It is another object of the invention to provide a holder'consisting of a book receiving frame formed to include'a pair of spaced hingedly connected wings between which the book supportedby the holder is retained and wherein the construction is such that upon the operation of the aforesaid release mechanism, the wings may be swung outwardly to permit of the opening of the book,-

It is further object of the invention to provide a book holder with a base and to pivotally, mountthe adjustable book supporting frame on the base so that said frame 'and a book'contained thereby may be rotated about a substantially vertical axis.

--It is a further object of the inventionto.

provide means permitting of the tilting of the supporting frame and a book carried thereby to various angular positions with respect to the. horizontal so that the book .may

be presented at the best reading angle to'suit the convenience of the reader.

It is a further ObJGC'i] of the invention to form the supporting frame wlth relatively movable sections which are transversely ad sions which have their lowerends at posiwhich I am aware.

tions below the hinged mountings for the wings, provided with rollers receivable within cam-slots provided in connection with relatively stationary parts of the frame structure, the said slots being of such design that when the wings are positioned to close a book, the rollers will engage with portions of the slots to lock the wings against movement,

whereby through the provision of the asso .ciated release mechanism, the said wings and the crank extensions may be elevated to remove the rollers from the locking portions of the cam slots to permit of the oscillation of the wings and controlled movement thereof by the contact of the rollers with the walls of said slots. 5

It is a still further object. of the invention to provide a book holder of simple, ellicient and economical construction which may be supported by afloor or table base and which constitutes generally a marked improvement over mechanical book holders or supports of lVith these andother objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention consists in thenovel features. of

construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a book holder closing the latter in an open position permitsup ported thereby;

Fig. 5is 'a horizontal sectional view taken tin of the reading. of the pages of a book on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig.2 and disclosing more particularly a bot tom plan view of the adjustable book supporting frame; ,7

- Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view of a means fortilting the supporting frame in a vertical plane;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view looking downwardly on the under part of the supporting frame;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8; v

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the book holder disclosing the vertical axis about which the supporting frame may turn bodily in a horizontal plane and the tilting screw for adjusting the angularity of the holder and the book contained thereby.

Fig. 11-is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 3.

Thespecific form of my book holder, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprises a metal base 1 which is of the type adapted to be received on a table, shelf, counter or other elevated horizontal supporting surface. It is obviously within the scope of my invention, however, to vary the length of the legs 2 of the base so that the latter may extend to the floor in order to produce a floor supported base if desired.

The base 2 terminates centrally and axially in a body 3 provided with a flat circular upper surface 4, constituting a bearing. Arranged for rotation on the surface 4 is a rotatable yoke 5, which yoke has its lower surface 6 shaped to. conform to the base surface 4, whereby to provide a bearing contact permitting of the free rotation ofthe yoke about the vertical axis of the base. A. headed pivot stud 7 passes through registering openings formed in the axial portions of the base and the yoke 5 in order to provide a positive vertical pivotal axis about which the yoke and the book supporting frame carried thereby may rotate. The bottom of the stud may be formed with looking nuts 8. It will be appreciated that suitable anti-friction bearings (not shown) may be positioned between the surfaces 4 and 6 if deemed advisable.

The yoke includes an up-turned arm 9 provided at its upper end with pivoted studs or trunnions 10, which trunnions are received within bearing openings provided 1n transversely extending frame members 11 and 12.

The arm 13 of the yoke 5, as shown in Fig. 7, carries pivot studs 14 which efiect the pivotal support of a journal 15, in which there is rotatably mounted the smooth cylindrical shank portion of a tilting screw 16.-

The lower end of the screw 16, below the j ournal 15 is formed with manipulating wings 17 permitting the rotation of the screw, while 'the upper threaded shank portion of the screw is received within the threaded bore of a nut 18 which is pivotally carried by the trunnions 19 of the arms 11 and 12. It will be seen that by rotating the screw 16, the nut 18 will be caused to travel vertically thereof, thereby rocking the supporting frame struc-= ture of which the frame members 11 and 12 constitute a rigid part. By this means, the

the desired reading positions of the book. The journal 15 and the nut 18 are supported by trunnions in order to,- compensate for the angularity of the screw 16 by reason of the swinging of the frame around the trunnions 10 and the connections between the lower end of said screw and the yoke 5.

The outer ends of the frame members 11 and 12 are, as shown in Fig. 8, securedto transversely extending end bars 21 by means of screws 22 or their equivalents so that the members 11 and 12 and the bars 21 will constitute a rigid frame assembly. Also, this rigid frame assembly comprises transversely spaced side bars 23. The side bars 23 have secured to their ends blocks 24c, each of which having provided therein a cam-slot 25, which blocks are slidably carried by the bars 21 so as to move longitudinally of the bars 21.

To control the relative spacing of the side bars 23 in order 'to adapt the frame structure to books of di'iierent width, and to admit of the sliding of the blocks 2 lon the bars 21, the side bars 23 are, as shown in Fig. 3, provided with horizontally extending screws 26 bearing right and left hand threads. The threaded shanks of the screws 26 are received within correspondingly threaded bores formed in a tubular member 27 which is confined for rotary movement about its longitudinal axis in connection with bearings 28 formed in conjunction with the frame members 11 and 12.

parted to the tubular member 27. Since the latter is confined for rotation in the bearings 28, it follows that longitudinal movement either in outer or inward directions will be imparted to the screws 26, thereby varying 'ment of the legs 31 in the guides 30 but are restricted against longitudinal movement by the edges of the legs engaging with the corresponding edge surfaces of said guides.

Hinged as at 33 'to the outer edges of'the plates 32 are winged members 34 which are adapted to engage with the sides or covers of the book 20 and to provide rests for the Centrally the tubular memvber 27 isprovided with an adjusting wheel 29' and it will be seen by manually rotating the wheel 29, rotary movement will be im book when the latter is in the open position disclosed in Fig. 4 and to positively clamp and engage the sides in order to lock the book in a closed position as shown in Fig. 2. Secured to the wings or formed therewith are lever arms 35 which, as shown in Fig. 2, extend below the winghinges 33. The extreme lower ends of the lever arms are provided with offset rollers 36 which are received within the slots 25 formed in the cam blocks 24.

Each of the slots 25 has its lower end provided with a locking pocket 37 inv which the rollers 36 are positioned when thewings are located to maintain a book in a closed condition. oscillation of the wings and the accidental opening of the book and therefore to permit of the release of said wings and their swinging movement when desired, I provide in connection with each wing a release mechanism, which requires actual positive man-.

ual operation before the wings may be swung about their hinges. This release mechanism, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, consists inproviding each of the wings with a finger plate 38 hinged as at 39 in connection with the outer edge of each wing. The finger plate engages with the upper end of a spring-pressed pin 40 slidably carried in connection with bearings 41 carried by each of the wings. Each pin may be provided with a threaded collar 42 which cooperates with a spring 43 by means of which each pin is held in a normally elevated position. The

lower end of each pin normally rests on the be seen that when it is desired to open the holder to permit of the viewing the pages of the book 20, the finger plates 38 are engaged by the operator and rocked about their pivots 39. This results in moving the pins or stems 40 in a downward direction against the pressure of the springs 43, thereby rocking the detents 44 and causing the same to elevate the plates 32, moving the legs 31 upwardly in the side bar guides 30. The upward movement of the plates 32 elevates the associated wings 34 and the lever arms 35, lifting the rollers 36 out of the locking pockets 37. After this initial locking movement of the plates 38, the rollers 36 assume elevated positions in the slots 25 of the cam blocks which elevated positions do not interfere with the hinged swingingmovement of the wing members 34 in an outward direction. When the wing members are fully opened, as shown in Fig. 4, the rollers 36 reach the upper ends of the slots 25 so as to sustain the'weight of the book in an open stable position and These pockets serve to prevent to receive the thrust pressures imparted thereby.

It will be noted that the weight of the book itself by being received by the plates 32 serves to retain the holder in a closed position and to positively lock the wings against separation by positively retaining the rollers 36 in sons of slight physical strength. shouldered connecting strips 46 are carried by each of the plates 32 and slidably coact with each other to limit the extent of separation of the plates 32 when the wheel 29 is rotated to adjust the holder tobooks of different width. These strips force the side plates to act vertically together, that is, causing said plates to maintain the same level and overcome binding of the opening and closing mechanism.

, In view of the foregoing, it'willbe seen that the present invention provides a book holder of simple, sturdy mechanical construction hioh has the advantage of ease of operation in the opening and closing of a contained book and also the further advantage of locking the book and the holder against accidental or undesired opening. As stated, to open the contained boolr, and to permit of the swinging movement of the clamping wings, it is first necessary to resort to an initial manual; 7

operation of a positive character, in this instance'the actuation of the pivoted finger plates. 'Such manipulation releases the locking mechanism of the wings in order that the latter may be gradually extended to assume a fully opened position. In these operations, the lever arms, the rollers 36 and the slotted cam blocks 24 serve an important part, since the pockets in the ends of the slots function in cooperation with the lever'arms to normally lock the wings against movement and,

when released from the pockets, the lever arms and the rollers travel in-the slots to provide for the controlled opening or descent of the means, and, when. the rollers reach the or convenient positions best suited for the requirementsof the reader. Again, thesupporting frame is readily adjustable transversely of itself so that the wings may be 7 adapted to books possessing considerable variation in width. The holder may be 2 placed on a table or other form of horizontal support or may be provided with a conventional type of floor stand. The holder prevents deposits of dust between book pages and retains the pages against in-rolling or folding of its leaves.

lVhile I have described in detail the preferred form of my present invention, yet it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as the latter has been defined in-the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A book holder comprising a supporting base formed with a hub, a yoke rotatably mounted on said hub for turning movement about a substantially vertically disposed axis, a frame having at one side a horizontal piv otal connection with said yoke, threaded adjusting means pivotally connected with said yoke and the other side of said frame and serving to retain said frame in various positions of angular adjustment with respect to said base, wing members having hinged connections with said frame, and threaded adjusting means cooperative with said frame and said wing members for varying the spacing of said wing members. 7

' 2. In a book holder, a supporting base pro vided with a central hub, a member rotatably mounted on said hub for turning movement about a substantially vertically disposed axis, aframe arranged over said member, a substantially horizontally disposed pivotal connection between one side of said frame and said member, pivotally movable threaded means cooperative with the other side of said frame and said member for varying and maintaining the operating positions of said frame with respect to said base by moving the frame about said horizontal pivotal connection, and means carried by said frame for sup porting a book.

3. In a book holder, a supporting base provided with a central hub, a member rotatably mounted on said hub for turning movement about a substantially vertically disposed axis, a frame arranged over said member, a substantially horizontally disposed pivotal eon- .neotion between one side of said frame and said member, pivotally movable threaded means cooperative with the other side of said frame and said member for varying and maintaining the operating positions of said frame with respect to said base by moving the frame about said horizontal pivotal connection, and adjustable means carried by said frame for supporting books of varying thickness.

4. In a book holder, a supporting base provided with a central bearing portion, a membersupported by said base cooperative with said bearing portion for turning movement about a substantially vertically disposed axis, a superposed frame, a horizontal pivotal conotal mounting for said frame permitting of 3,

the adjustment thereof about both vertical and horizontal axes, means for retaining said frame in its positions of adjustment about said axes, spaced book back supports carried by said frame, means mounted in conjunction with said frame for controlling the'spaoing of said supports, hinged wings connected with the outer longitudinal edges of said supports,

and means for locking said means in positions of book closure.

frame carried by said base, a compound pivotal mounting for said frame permitting of the adjustment thereof about both vertical and horizontal axes, means for retaining said frame in its positions of adjustment about said axes, spaced book back supports carried by said frame, means mounted in conjunction with said frame for controlling the spacing. of said supports, hinged wings connected with the outer longitudinal edges of said suports and means for limiting the extent of relative separation of said supports.

7. In a book holder, a book supporting frame, a base, compound pivotalconnections .90 6. In a book holder, a supporting base, a I

between saidbase and said frame permitting of adjustment of the frame about horizontal and vertical axes, a pair of book resting plates carried by said frame andslidable toward and from each other, screw mechanism, carried' by said frame for regulating sliding movement between said plates, a pair of hinged wings carried by said plates, means for locking said wings in positions of book closure, and release mechanism carried by said wings and manually operable to release the locking mechanism to permit of the swinging of said wings to positions providing for the opening of a bookreceived therebetween.

8. In a book holder, a base, a frame mounted on said base and pivotally adj ustable about horizontal and vertical axes, side bars extending parallel to said frame and slidably connected therewith for adjustment transversely of the frame, threaded adjusting means carried by said frame and connected with said side bars for controlling the sliding movement thereof on said frame, spaced longitudinally extendingbook rest plates connected with said bars, hinged wings connected to the outer edges of said plates, blocks'connected with said side bars and provided with cam shaped slots, and lever arms formed with said wings and having the lower portions thereof arranged to project below the hinged mountings for said wings, the lower portions of said arms being receivable withinv the slots provided in said blocks.

9. In a book solder, a base, a frame, com pound pivotal connections between said frame and said base permittin of the ad'ustment of said frame about both vertical, and horizontal axes, book supports transversely adjustable on'said frame, hinged wings connected with said book supports, blocks connected with said book supports provided with cam shaped guides, and crank extensions formed with said wings and projecting below the hinged mountings of the latter to cooperate with the guides provided in connection with said blocks.

10. In a book holder, a base, a frame pivotally adjustable on said base for turning movement about both vertical and horizontal axes, book supports slidably carried by said frame, manually adjustable means for varying the spaci of said book supports to adapt said supports to books of different thickness, cam shaped guides rigidly formed with said book supports, wings hinged to the outer edges of said book supports, lever extensions formed with said wings and having their lower portions arranged to be received within said cam guides, said guides being formed to lock said wings against swinging movement when in positions of book closure, and manually operated release devices carried by said wings and operable to move said lever extensions from the locking positions of said guides to permit of theswinging of said wings to positions providing for the opening of a book received therebetwee 11. In a book holder, an under structure, book supports carried by said structure, book back resting plates mounted for vertical movement on said supports, cam guides having pockets in their lower ends, wings hinged to the outer edges of said plates, lever extensions formed with said wings and having their lower portions arranged to be received within said cam guides, the pockets formed in said guides serving to lock said wings in positions of book closure, pivoted detents arranged between said supports and plates, and manually operated release devices including spring pressed stems for rocking said detents to raise said plates and elevate said wings from their engagement with the pockets formed in said cam guides. I

12. In a book holder, an under structure, book supports carried by said structure, book back resting members mount-ed for vertical movement of said supports, hinged wings connected to the outer edges of said members for movement therewith, substantially horizontally arranged cam guides formed with said supports having upwardly and downwardly directed end portions formed therewith, and extensions provided upon the lower portions of said wings and projecting below the hinged mounting of the latter to cooperate with said guides, the vertically movable mountings of said book back resting members permitting said wing extensions to follow said guides throughout the curvatures thereof.

13. In a book holder, a base, book supports carried by said base, book back resting members mounted for vertical movement on said supports, hinged wings connected to the outer edges of said members for movement therewith, substantially horizontally arran ed cam guides formed with said supports having upwardly and downwardly directed end portions formed therewith, and extensions provided upon the lower portions of said wings and projecting below the hinged mountings of the latter to cooperate with said guides, the vertically movable mountings of said book back resting members permitting engagement between said wing extensions and guides throughout the lengths of the latter and effects the positive positioning of said wings in either their raised or lowered position.

14;. In a book holder, a base, book supports carried in connection with said base, book back resting plates mounted for vertical movement on said supports, wings hingedly connected to the outer edgse of said plates, substantially S-shaped cam guides formed with said supports, and lever; extensions provided upon the lower portions of said wings for engagement with said cam guides to effeet the vertical movement of said plates and wings during the opening and closing action of said wings.

15. In a book holder, a base, book supports carried in connection with said base, wings 'hingedly united to said support, substansaid wings and projecting below the hinged FREDERICK C. LANDSITTEL. 

